Final answer:
Environmental risk factors for diseases include pathogens, radon, air pollution, UV light exposure, and lifestyle behaviors such as smoking and poor diet. Genetic factors like the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes also pose significant risk, particularly for cancers. Understanding both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors is important for disease prevention and treatment strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors
Environmental risk factors significantly contribute to human cancers, with at least 90 percent of cases being influenced by such factors. These include pathogens like hepatitis viruses, radon, air pollution, and UV light exposure. Radon, specifically, increases the risk of lung cancer markedly in smokers, whereas air pollution has been associated with an elevated risk of lung and bladder cancers. UV light, conversely, heightens the risk of skin cancers, including both carcinoma and melanoma.
Similarly, behaviors like smoking, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity fall under environmental risk factors and contribute to metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is a precursor for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, with the consumption of sweetened beverages being a significant behavioral factor. Inherited risk factors are also crucial, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations that sharply increase breast and ovarian cancer risks, although they do not lead to cancer in every carrier.
Not all risk factors are changeable. Inborn characteristics like age, gender, and inherited genes are non-modifiable, yet recognizing them remains important for disease prevention and management. Some risk factors like a diet high in meat, obesity, and high blood pressure are lifestyle-dependent and can be altered to lower disease risks. Knowledge of these risk factors provides valuable insight into disease progression and prevention strategies.